Luscious and approachable, the 2012 Durbanville Hills Merlot is the perfect example of this classic varietal known for its fruity aromas. The wine is full-bodied with berry fruit, rich dark chocolate and hints of cedar wood filling the mouth. Enjoy on a cold winter’s evening with mushroom risotto, beef Wellington, strong cheeses or pork fillet.

The unique location of the area offers a rare combination of slopes, soil types, misty and cool sea-breezes which allow the Merlot grapes selected from vineyards on the valley floor to reach optimal ripeness. Cellar master Martin Moore says the constant presence of the wind blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean ensures the canopies stay fairly small “a phenomenon that we have linked to better fruit and structure in the wines.”

Martin says that Durbanville Hills’ Merlot is characterized by its fruit-forward and well-balanced tannins. To achieve this end result the wine was matured for 12 months in predominantly French oak. A small number of new barrels were used in conjunction with older ones as well as with wood alternatives. “We use this combination of new and older barrels to prevent over-wooding and so preserve the elegance of our cool-climate fruit.”

The 2012 Durbanville Hills Merlot is available from leading liquor outlets and retails for about R64.